Championship Round Preview - the Copout

Time - where did it go? Unfortunately I don't have sufficient time to do justice to a Joe's SeaBlog-style preview, so I will direct your attention to the Portland Sea Dogs preview of the game, the official game notes, as prepared by the Sea Dogs radio team, and the MaineToday.com preview of the series. Also, here's a story about how tickets are likely to be available for the game.

And sometimes it pays to look into enemy territory. Here's a very comprehensive preview, focusing on how these teams fared against one another during the regular season, from the Akron Aeros web site.

Tonight's game features a terrific pitching matchup. EL Pitcher of the Year Jon Lester, who you've read about here in the past, toes the rubber for the Sea Dogs. Lester's allowed just two runs on eight hits and three walks vs. 21 K's over his last three starts (20 IP). The Aeros counter with Jeremy Sowers, the 6th overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Vanderbilt and also a southpaw. Sowers started 13 games for Akron this season and posted a 5-1 record, 2.08 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and outstanding 70/9 K/BB ratio in 82.1 innings pitched. Sowers numbers for Akron were actually a bit better than those he posted for Single A Kinston, where he also made 13 starts: 71.1 IP, 8-3, 2.78, 1.10, 75/19. Sowers also made one start for AAA Buffalo, allowing just one run in 5.2 IP. John Sickels rated Sowers the #8 overall prospect for the Indians with a "B" rating (Lester also earned a preseason "B" from Sickels).

It should be a terrific game. I hope to see you there.